Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #2 Review

Anya is forced to team up with Hobgoblin and the Kingpin.

Looking at both the main storyline and the various tie-ins, Spider-Island has been surprisingly consistent throughout. Like most tie-ins, The Amazing Spider-Girl won't blow the doors down, but it's an enjoyable outing for a character who could always use a little more exposure.

Issue #1 ended with the revelation that Kingpin was another in the long line of New Yorkers to gain spider powers. In issue #2, he offers to form an alliance with Anya, who is understandably wary. Much of the issue sees Anya, Fisk, and Hobgoblin wage war against the Society of the wasp. It's difficult to say whether this book will actually impact the course of the main event, but at the very least Paul Tobin has cooked up a natural conflict that fits organically into the confines of Spider-Island while also furthering Anya's story. Kingpin's rationale for seeking Spider-Girl's aid is a bit shaky, but that merely leaves readers waiting for the inevitable betrayal in issue #3. Tobin also deserves credit for writing a slightly toned down, less annoying version of Hobgoblin. Too often the villain's mental instability and tendency to spout banter is overplayed.

Pepe Larraz provides some very sleek and energetic pencils to help move the story along. Andres Mossa's colors also add an attractive sheen. It's always appreciated when the colors reflect the fact that Anya is Hispanic and not Caucasian. The book looks very much like a blend of Stefano Caselli and Humberto Ramos' styles from Amazing Spider-Man. Larraz's layouts could use some fine-tuning, though. In several cases, the panels are reduced to mere thumbnails even as the action reaches a fever pitch.

If Anya can't enjoy her own ongoing solo series, at least projects like this help expand her story and keep her in the spotlight.